Wis. Republicans face new hurdle in union battle

The Hon. Maryann Sumi reiterates her temporary restraining order barring further implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Sumi said Tuesday that her earlier restraining order saying the law shouldn’t be enacted had either been ignored or misinterpreted. Sumi stopped short of saying the law was not already in effect. She says she will take more testimony on that issue. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
— AP

The Hon. Maryann Sumi reiterates her temporary restraining order barring further implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Sumi said Tuesday that her earlier restraining order saying the law shouldn’t be enacted had either been ignored or misinterpreted. Sumi stopped short of saying the law was not already in effect. She says she will take more testimony on that issue. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Michael Barman of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau testifies at a hearing in front of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Michael Barman of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau testifies at a hearing in front of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau's Cathlene Hanaman answers an attorney's question during a hearing in front of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau's Cathlene Hanaman answers an attorney's question during a hearing in front of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Attorney Robert Jambois, left, confers with his client Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, while questioning witness Cathlene Hanaman of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Attorney Robert Jambois, left, confers with his client Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, while questioning witness Cathlene Hanaman of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Stephen Miller, director of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau, answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Stephen Miller, director of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau, answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Stephen Miller, director of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau, consults a book of Wisconsin statutes during a line of questioning from Robert Jambois, counsel for Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Stephen Miller, director of Wisconsin's Legislative Reference Bureau, consults a book of Wisconsin statutes during a line of questioning from Robert Jambois, counsel for Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette, left, shakes hands with his counsel of choice, Roger Sage, center standing, during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette, left, shakes hands with his counsel of choice, Roger Sage, center standing, during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Assistant Attorney General Steven Means answers reporters questions during a recess in a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Assistant Attorney General Steven Means answers reporters questions during a recess in a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Gregory Gracz of Wisconsin's Office of State Employment Relations answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Gregory Gracz of Wisconsin's Office of State Employment Relations answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Judy Neumann of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Judy Neumann of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

From the witness stand, Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) watches WisconsinEye Public Affairs Network footage of the March 9, 2011 Joint Committee of Conference entered into evidence during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

From the witness stand, Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) watches WisconsinEye Public Affairs Network footage of the March 9, 2011 Joint Committee of Conference entered into evidence during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Wisconsin Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) answers an attorney's question during a hearing before Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

The Hon. Maryann Sumi reiterates her temporary restraining order barring further implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Sumi said Tuesday that her earlier restraining order saying the law shouldn’t be enacted had either been ignored or misinterpreted. Sumi stopped short of saying the law was not already in effect. She says she will take more testimony on that issue. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

The Hon. Maryann Sumi reiterates her temporary restraining order barring further implementation of 2011 Wisconsin Act 10 at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Sumi said Tuesday that her earlier restraining order saying the law shouldn’t be enacted had either been ignored or misinterpreted. Sumi stopped short of saying the law was not already in effect. She says she will take more testimony on that issue. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette listens to Assistant Attorney General Maria Lazar make her opening arguments at a hearing in front of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)— AP

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette listens to Assistant Attorney General Maria Lazar make her opening arguments at a hearing in front of Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi at the Dane County Courthouse in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. With Republican Gov. Scott Walker's administration insisting a new law eliminating most of state workers' collective bargaining rights had gone into effect and other state and municipal leaders disputing that, many were looking to today's court hearing for some kind of clarity. (AP Photo/Michael P. King, Pool)
/ AP

MADISON, Wis. 
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and his fellow Republicans face a new hurdle in their campaign to curb public sector unions' power.

So far Republicans have managed win after win - overcoming massive protests and outmaneuvering Democrats to push their plan through the Legislature, then finding a way to at least temporarily get around a court order that would have kept the explosive union bargaining law from taking effect.

Now they face another court order blocking the law, which would strip most public employees of nearly all their collective bargaining rights. And this time the judge has said there will be consequences for violators.

Still, the matter is far from settled. Republicans haven't said what their next move will be, but it's likely the law's legitimacy will be decided by the state Supreme Court.

Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi chastised state officials Tuesday for ignoring her earlier order to halt the law's publication.

"Apparently that language was either misunderstood or ignored, but what I said was the further implementation of (the law) was enjoined," Sumi said during a hearing. "That is what I now want to make crystal clear."

Republican lawmakers pushed the law through the Legislature earlier this month despite massive protests that drew up to 85,000 people to the state Capitol. After diffusing a Democratic filibuster in the Assembly, Republicans used a parliamentary procedure in the Senate to circumvent a Democratic boycott meant to prevent a vote.

Walker signed the bill on March 11, triggering a number of lawsuits from opponents. Sumi issued a temporary restraining order blocking Secretary of State Doug La Follette from publishing the bill - typically the last step before a law takes effect.

Republicans got around that by having the Legislative Reference Bureau, another state agency, publish the bill on Friday. They declared victory, saying the law went into effect on Saturday.

Sumi's order on Tuesday told state officials to stand down from any further action to put the law into effect. This time, she warned that anyone who defied it would face sanctions. She did not say what those sanctions might be.

"Wisconsin working families hope that Scott Walker and his Republican allies in the Legislature will finally begin to respect our state's judicial process and reverse any damage they've done to the working families of our state," Stephanie Bloomingdale, secretary-treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, said in a statement.

Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Mike Huebsch, Walker's top aide, issued a statement saying the agency will evaluate the judge's order. State Department of Justice spokesman Steve Means said the agency continues to believe the law was properly published and is in effect.

Dane County Democratic District Attorney Ismael Ozanne - the plaintiff in the lawsuit heard Tuesday - argued the reference bureau can't publish a law without a date from the secretary of state. The district attorney asked Sumi to declare the law had not been published, but she refused to rule, saying she wants to gather more testimony.